Festival of the Hunt - Day 4

Lamina
VANQUISHED

Lamina: 1/9

That, ladies and gentlemen, concludes this year's Festival of the Hunt.

Festival of the Hunt - Day 3

Today's results:

Hyakinthos: 1/3, Belladonna: 1/1, Lamina: 0/3

Festival of the Hunt - Day 2

Still camping NMs on and off these days while I'm busy with RL stuff. Fortunately, it's been pretty painless so far. :D

Olgoi-Khorkhoi: 1/7, Hazmat: 1/2, Chaneque: 1/1, Hyakinthos: 0/1

A Shantotto Ascension Woes

Pet: Magic Accuracy+7
Haste+3%

HP+25 Enmity+4
Magic Accuracy+4

Movement Speed+8%
Physical Damage Taken -4%

The first are PUP pants, the second are Breath Pants, and the third are idk-fast pants. I guess if I make PUP pants, I can use all 3 add-on pieces on PUP full-time. :3

One-and-a-Half Years Later...

Wanting is Getting Boring

So, I'm realizing, with grimace, that I'm running out of things to do by myself. I caught myself wanting a pair of Nimue's Tights from the Blood-Bathed Crown SCNM for no other reason than they're kind of impressive to own. I keep checking Claqueseous Equipment to see what I can improve, and the answer is: "Not much." I'd still like a Goblin Cracker, Saurian Helm and 2 Triumph Earrings, and even silly things like White Tathlum and Dragon Kote, but it's really bottom-of-the-barrel at this point in terms of BLU gear—well, bottom-of-the-barrel for things outside of Sky/Salvage...

Blue Mage 101: Subs, Traits, 'n' Merits

Good evening, class.

Today, I would like to discuss the particular abilities and traits, innate or otherwise, that your Blue Mage would derive the most benefit from, and the various situations for which they are useful.

Made with Real Blood

This was kind of a bittersweet victory. I'm sure it's common in the HNM world to watch someone with linkx5 die, but even I felt kind of bad, and it didn't help that he was a Taru. I was still ready to steal it though, mostly because I didn't want to get screwed for being the nice guy, and I sure as hell didn't want to go through the nerve-wracking process that is camping a NM in such a dangerous and unpredictable area against 4-5 RDMs with Crimson Pants.

In spite of my sense of moral outrage, I will give credit where credit is due. Thank you, Firewall, Omari, Nolard and Cyprian for helping me out with this. I know now for a fact that I couldn't have handled this by myself, so your support was greatly appreciated. Use this as an excuse to whore favors from me!

Putting Out is Hard to Do

As long as you remember Signet/Sanction/Sigil, you can rest easy knowing that every stocking will get stuffed this Christmas.

Blue Mage 101: Policies, Etiquette & Disciplinary Action

Good evening, class.

First of all, my deepest condolences to Omari regarding the Silver Sea Remnants fiasco. Our hearts are with you.

Anyway, I should have discussed this on the first day of class, and of course I forgot to send you all home with a syllabus. Today, I would like to put a pause on our exploration of Blue Magic to discuss my particular class policies.

MP Efficiency

First of all, omg I'm on the first page on Google Image Search for "Blue Mage"! :O

Now, some findings:
Firespit: High: 650 Low: 500
Eyes on Me: High: 600 Low: 500
Mind Blast: High: 375 Low: 270
Regurgitation: High: 500 Low: 300

These were tested on the Aerns in the Grand Palace of Hu'xhoi using BLM sub. My total stats were:
INT: 115
MND: 99
CHR: 105
Magic Accuracy: 14

Messing with Bune

Last night, a couple of friends of mine agreed to come kill Ungur for Nolard's boomie. On the way over, we both somehow managed to completely pass Bune, prancing around big as day. Luckily, Cyp wasn't so oblivious. c.c

Too bad the kitty didn't put out:

Teaching is Learning

So, I was playing around with my Mirage Keffiyeh today and found some really weird stuff. You'd think "Enhances Breath damage" would apply to things that actually come out of your mouth. SE doesn't seem to think so:

MP Drainsmooch

First, look what I got:


Then, I'd like to know one thing: Why do I never see BLUs use MP Drainkiss in Dynamis...? It's always double dark weather, and so many mobs in Dynamis have MP. They're also all DC to level 75 players.

Well Played: Rapakya

This guy puts Keiko to shame (well maybe not, but still pretty badass):

• How to duo Mother Globe
• Soloing Fenrir

Frustration of Purpose

I hate you,

Uleguerand Range,

ENMs,

gil,

FFXI,

and Square-Enix.

Addendum: Rare Swords

Good evening, class.

One of your peers pointed out that I missed a few important swords for Blue Mage during yesterday's lesson. Let's begin.

Blue Mage 101: Your Sword and You

Good evening, class.

Today, I overheard a conversation about a particular sword. Maybe you've heard of it:

Win

Sad. Face.

Featured Friend: Firewall

Name: Firewall
Jobs: WAR, BLM, RNG, BRD, WHM*
Relation: Partner in Crime

How We Met: Once upon a golden afternoon, Eremes, a lowly THF, had taken steed to the Pashhow Marshlands to slay and collect blood from fallen leeches. But hark! A Galka calls! The stalwart man-mountain sought an extra derriere to sit on a switch in the Garlaige Citadel, so very far from the marshes.

The THF had considered denying the request; his pockets were lined with nothing but lint and he was in dire need of new accouterments. Still, the call of a Galka cannot be resisted--not by his kind--and so he made haste for the dilapidated fortress in the Champaign mountains.

And what came of it? The behemoth had obtained a pair of old gloves from a coffer therein. Who would have known it would have led to such an enduring amistad. The Galka needed an apprentice, and the THF needed a mentor, and so, the two were bound 'til the end of their days.


What Do I Think?: Firewall is probably one of my best friends on FFXI, who I met through FFXI. It kind of weirded me out to think I could have a fast friendship with someone through an online game, but I've been embracing virtual camaraderie more and more. Even if it isn't the same as a friendship in person, it's completely analogous to one, and we're rapidly moving into a world where relationships like this will become all the more common.

If I had an adoptive older brother, it'd probably be him (which is funny because I'm actually older).

And to Omari: We are not married, but I won't forget to invite you to the shower.

Fun Fact(s): FW has access to at least 4 accounts at any given time. He has Cooking and Woodworking crafts, but doesn't level them!

Job He Should Play Next: He'll probably never get around to it, but I will say PLD. He loves tanking, though you wouldn't necessarily know it.

*On his 'mule.'

Blue Mage 101: Monster Correlation & Its Effects

Welcome to Vana'diel University.

This is Professor Eremes' Introduction to Blue Mage class. If you are in the wrong room, kindly make your way to the door. Thanks.

Monster Correlation

As most of you know, there are 6 generally-accepted schools of magic: Elemental, Dark, Divine, Enfeebling, Enhancing, and Healing. There exist also Ninjutsu, Summoning, and the various Bard magics, but since those are of... questionable origins, we shall leave them aside. In my class, we will be learning about Blue Magic, a curious strain only recently developed. As such, much of the extant literature is disturbingly uneven.

Against All Odds

So today, I officially finished Limbus.

I have every piece of AF+1 I want, only lacking a Boxer's Mantle, which can be "purchased," and, as of 8:45 this evening, I have completed the Homam Corazza set (Or at least the pieces that count for me):

Featured Friend: Aydindril & Khellendros

SO, I got tired of waiting around for some pretty headers for this, so I'll just get right to it.

Name: Aydindril
Jobs: DRG, THF, PLD, SMN, BST
Relation: Friend
How We Met: Maybe one or two days after ZNMs were released, I was helping out Mascrapone with his Vulpangue Trigger. After some heartache and fail, Sepharix and Ayd decided to help us out. Ayd(SMN): "Yo, yo! I need mah TPz!" We still wiped, but I laughed pretty hard and told Mas I thought she was cool. I was BLU66 at the time.

If it wasn't for Ayd, I probably never would have finished Divine Might, Nyzul Isle, and MMM.
What Do I Think?: I think Ayd is one of the funniest people I know on Siren, and she's a skilled and dedicated player to boot. She's a bit impetuous and sometimes, inaccessible, but that makes her all the more fun to have around when she's actually free and not exhausted!
Fun Fact: Ayd owns a Gae Assail, Stage 4 of Gungnir relic lance! She's also an Impossible to gauge PLD, missing only maybe an Aegis at this point! :O
Job She Should Play Next: DNC!

OM NOM NOM

Name: Khellendros
Jobs: SCH, BLU, THF, BLM, RDM, WHM, SMN
Relation: Pookie of a Friend
How We Met: I swaggered Ayd into helping me learn Asuran Claws, so Khell came along on his THF to help out. At the time, because Khell's model is a female taru, I though they were "just friends," then I though they were... "Friends" in the way that Sailor Uranus and Neptune are friends, but then I found out he was a guy.

He and Ayd (but mostly him because he passed his to me) also helped me big time to get my Koggelmander, the sword I NEVER take off because it's so freaking epic.
What Do I Think?: Khell is like my nerdy Final Fantasy soul-mate. It's so delightful to talk to someone who knows who "Kain Highwind" is or what "Scourge" does. I don't see Khell online as often anymore, which is a shame, and I'd like to do some more events and junk with him again!
Fun Fact: Khell uses Nashira Seraweels on BLU because he doesn't have Homam Cosciales yet. He's also unrivaled in his encyclopedic knowledge of FFXI-mechanics and has more BLU relic than I do. :(
Job He Should Play Next: Needs more DD. Imma say RNG!

Black Mage Khellendros and Paladin Aydindril join your party!!

Things Blue Mages Should Have Gotten (But Didn't)

Spells

Goblin Punch (Beastmen - Physical)
Damage varies with TP.
STR+1 DEX+1
Lv.12 22MP Blue Magic points 2

Historically, Goblin Punch has been a low damage, blunt physical attack. When used against a monster that is the same level as yourself, its attack power is raised dramatically. A spell that would help BLUs in Fields of Valor or managing agro against Even Match enemies and a Bludgeon +1 for 75BLUs without the TP feed.

Ex Kupost

Ok, maybe I was a little harsh about this expansion. It's not that bad, but it tries way too hard to make up for "shortcomings" with ACP that weren't actually there.

First of all, it's longer than ACP. ACP can be done in 4-6 hours. Moogle Kupo d'Etat took me about 3 days.

Likewise, the tasks are much harder as well. The Quicksand Caves Seed Afterglows aren't that hard, but they're considerably more tedious and time-consuming. And instead of the huge climb up Delkfutt's tower, the last set of "mini-games" are a bunch of puzzles.

The Plot Thickens

I am absolutely spellbound by Wings of the Goddess. True to the development team's ambitions, this storyline continues to be mysterious, engaging, memorable and fun.

Whereas the add-on scenarios are all driven by gear acquisition, Wings of the Goddess' few followers continue to press on with no visible reward simply because the missions themselves, while not necessarily fun, are fascinating.

This time around, we see the cast of characters thicken in some places (and in others, thin), with some interesting new developments. Most of your speculation can be put to rest, but the details still have yet to be fleshed out, and the details are that worth it.

I wouldn't say these missions are particularly hard, but they do seem to be more um... "skill"-based, if you can even call it that. There's also the fact that the poverty of players actually doing these missions makes anything requiring a party a bit tedious.

Square-Enix Likes to Make You Suffer

Wow.

Bravo, Square-Enix. I thought ACP was the winner in terms of half-assing and calling it new content, but this takes the cake. It's quarter-assing, or maybe one-eighth assing, at best. I'm almost impressed at how they've managed to rob me of both my time and my money yet again.

Take everything you and everyone else hated about ACP, multiply it by 2, and add to it a poorly-written, unengaging "plot" and you have FFXI's newest add-on scenario and glorified, gold-plated turd, A Moogle Kupo d'Etat.

Whale Hunting

Omg there is nothing I hate more in the world than Walruses now. I hope BLUs poach them to extinction (which would explain why they don't exist in the present).

At any rate...

Shopping List

One more piece! :D

If anyone feels like making me a present, I'm looking for:

• Triumph Earring x1
• Neptune's Staff
• Pluto's Staff
• A Few PUP Attachments
• 30 or so Ancient Beastcoins
  
• Ethereal Earring
• Diabolos' Earring
• Homam Manapolas :(
  

That's about everything. Anything else is entangled in some sort of quest (like -1 pieces and whatnot).

New Blue Magic tomorrow!!

Cannonball Vs. Heat Breath - An Analysis

I've decided to write this post due to the severe ignorance that plagues FFXI's BLU community regarding endgame builds.

Now, most people are of the opinion that BLU have no place in endgame whatsoever. Nothing could be more untrue, but I will concede that the odds are stacked inordinately against Blue Mages. To be effective at endgame, BLUs are heavily gear and merit-dependent, and are called on to furnish expensive builds that they aren't afforded many opportunities to use. Even so, BLUs who truly love the job and are committed to it will go the extra mile to offer these builds in certain endgame contexts.

Funnies

Pics after the jump.

One of those days...

I wanted to make an angry letter out of this (how fitting), but you know what? I'm not even going to bother.

Think what you all want about me--I welcome your abuse.

If you hadn't heard elsewhere, Hephaestus is dead. 2 people decided to quit, and that news made 2 more people decide to quit, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Blame whoever you want. You all have eyes, ears and a brain. You decide who is responsible. I'm through trying to compensate, compromise, console and amend.

NOUVEAU BLEU MAGIE

Omgosh, I totally thought BLU was finished, but SE doesn't seem to think so.

So the first one looks like a buff, the second one like a new DD spell? I'm willing to bet one of them is learned off of gargoyles in Beaucedine/Xarcabard [S].

Let's just hope either their Skill multiplier is low, or that they're mid 60's spells, otherwise their damage will be shitty à la Asuran Claws. :|

Lol I guess the other updates are nice, especially the skill up update. Otherwise, meh. Where the hell is the promised BST update that makes jug pets level up like Wyverns? :(

Royale Ramble in 3 Minutes

You will need:

• 2 well-geared/merited Blue Mages
• 1 WHM/BLM (With Auspice, Barsleepra)
  
• DD/NINx2 (With Poison Potions)
  
• Babysitter (With Echo Drops)
  

Ninja? What's That?

I so called this.

Yonin (Lv.40 Ability Delay: 5 min. Duration: 5 min.)

Increases enmity and enhances "ninja tool expertise" effect, but impairs accuracy. Grants a bonus to evasion and critical hit rate when in front of target.





Innin (Lv.40 Ability Delay: 5 min. Duration: 5 min.)

Reduces enmity and impairs evasion. Grants a bonus to accuracy, critical hit rate, and ninjutsu damage when striking target from behind.

A Foray Into Datmodding

To the left is the only existing Blue Homam set for hume males. On the right is my version.

A Moogle Kupo d'Etat

STR +4 Weaponskill Accuracy +15
Accuracy +10 Attack +5



K, first of all, so the heavy armor jobs and the mages get cute, kitchy FF3 knockoffs, and what do the light DD's get? A freaking salade... GJ, SE.

I am a Cheeky Bastard

First:

So, ironically, everything went according to plan today... Except when segment of Omega's tail = Homam Feet =/= Homam Legs. The feeties went to Rinpoop, who was way overdue, while the hands went to Nightingale, likewise very overdue.

Though she passed the hands to me, the rest of the LS encouraged her to lot. I'm not going to lie, my little demon came out. I wanted those hands. If you would kindly look to your left, you can see why.

It's not for the MP, nor the haste, nor the completeness. It's for the blue.

I suppose the haste is nice too, though.

In the end I'm glad things turned out the way they did. My debts, for the most part, have been repaid.

This Will Make Your FFXI Day...

I'm just speechless.

Busy Bee

It's really not so hard to level up when you have something to look forward to. PUP has so many little milestones--the various Automaton AIs, increased access to anything that remotely resembles DD gear, and that adorable, but all too garish artifact armor.

Let's face it: outfitting a martial artist in a traffic-cone orange blouse is criminal. Whatever defensive value a plunging V-neck shirt could possibly have I am still trying hopelessly to reconcile.

Even so, I can't resist its sheer cuteness, and adding to that a tiny caliph that follows you around and dances on command makes it all the more irresistible.


Even more adorable are oddities like this:


Hello, 900 damage Weapon Skill/Skill Chain in a level 55 sync party, and that wasn't even with Daze, the Tier 2 Automaton Weapon Skill.

FFXI Demands the Floor

... So I think I'm going to start a gamer's blog. While I love keeping you all posted on all the silly things I do on XI, I love talking shit about things/people even more, and said shit-talking demands my attention.